UN warns of collapse of services in Gaza unless fuel gets in

Updated 10:31 am, Monday, May 14, 2018

Photo: Adel Hana, AP

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FILE - In this July 4, 2016 file photo, a truck loaded with Turkish aid supplies arrives through the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Israel to Rafah, Gaza Strip. Late Friday, a large crowd of Palestinians badly damaged a fuel and gas terminal and a conveyor belt at the Kerem Shalom crossing. Israel closed the crossing and said it would likely take weeks or months to repair the damage. less

FILE - In this July 4, 2016 file photo, a truck loaded with Turkish aid supplies arrives through the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Israel to Rafah, Gaza Strip. Late Friday, a large crowd of Palestinians ... more

Photo: Adel Hana, AP

UN warns of collapse of services in Gaza unless fuel gets in

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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The U.N. says an alternative way of getting fuel to Gaza must be found urgently, warning of dwindling supplies needed to run hospitals, pick up garbage, pump water and treat sewage.

The appeal late Sunday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) came two days after hundreds of Palestinians destroyed the fuel terminal at the main cargo crossing with Israel, the only entry point for fuel to Gaza. Officials say it could take months to repair the damage.

Israel has held Gaza's Hamas rulers responsible. The Islamic militant group has not commented publicly.

The closure comes at a time when Hamas is trying to break a decade-old blockade of Gaza by Israel and Egypt with mass border protests, with the largest crowd yet expected Monday.